The Netherlands

Last night, the children in Netherlands, filled their shoes with hay and sugar. This morning, they woke up to find that St. Nicholas had put a small present in their shoes.
St. Nicholas is Father Christmas. In the Netherlands, St. Nicholas is known as Sinterklaas.

Dutch children believe that Sinterklaas lives in Spain, where he keeps a big red book in which he writes down all the good and bad deeds of every child.

On December 6th, Sinterklass arrives in Netherlands on a boat and rides down the streets on a white horse.
The hay and sugar the children left in their shoes is for
St. Nicholas' horse.

During the night, St. Nicholas, the patron saint of children, visits every house. If the children have been good, he fills their shoes with sweets. If they have not been good, their shoes are filled with twigs.

Sometimes St Nicholas will appear in person and ask the children if they have been good. He will also ask the children to recite Bible verses.